as in classic
constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated
Helen of Troy was supposedly the quintessential beauty of the ancient world
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Recent Examples of quintessential
For nine years, guests filed into the quintessential diner, ordering the egg sandwich specials scrawled on a chalkboard and griddled pancakes browned by the flat top, which followed a recipe from Mitchell's grandfather.
—
Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 31 Oct. 2025
The surrounding peaks set a majestic tone, and the quintessential village of Metsovo (with its aforementioned ski slopes) is just a short drive from the property.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
This would be Maia (Sennott), a 27-year-old who lives on the east side with her cute schoolteacher boyfriend, Dylan (Josh Hutcherson), and works as an assistant to Alyssa (Leighton Meester as the quintessential millennial girlboss), a talent manager.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025
At the always-hoppin' Hold Out Brewing, experience a quintessential Austin hangout.
—Kathryn Streeter, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quintessential
Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 31 Oct. 2025
The surrounding peaks set a majestic tone, and the quintessential village of Metsovo (with its aforementioned ski slopes) is just a short drive from the property.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
This would be Maia (Sennott), a 27-year-old who lives on the east side with her cute schoolteacher boyfriend, Dylan (Josh Hutcherson), and works as an assistant to Alyssa (Leighton Meester as the quintessential millennial girlboss), a talent manager.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025
At the always-hoppin' Hold Out Brewing, experience a quintessential Austin hangout.
—Kathryn Streeter, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quintessential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quintessential
Adjective
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Look for classic chocolate and vanilla cones, plus cereal milk ice cream and other specialty flavors.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
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Buckter guided her toward a palette where the colors relate to one another in a classic way, the kind that instantly reads as San Francisco.—
Itay Hod,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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An exemplary beef tartare arrived in the second wave.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
24 Dec. 2025
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Coach Smith is an ethical man who has done an exemplary job for the University.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
18 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Includes gardening tips to grow perfect perennials and chiles for every palate, plus articles on delicious Ukrainian food dishes and Christmas family traditions, banana recipe contest winners and practical life advice.—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
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To this day, it's celebrated as one of the most iconic musical pairings ever captured on television — a shimmering handoff between generations and a snapshot of two powerhouse voices meeting in perfect harmony.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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This water sign embodies the archetypal mother; the protective space, the nurturing force, and these qualities are precisely what dominates now.—
Danijela Pilic,
Glamour,
3 Jan. 2026
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Director Nadia Hallgren had immense access to Obama, following her across a 34-city book tour and turning the introspective writing into a dynamic reflection of the author as the archetypal modern woman.—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The testing process is built for speed and discretion, delivering a definitive answer in approximately two minutes.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
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Without any definitive answers just yet, there's been lots of speculation in the local press, including questions about whether the couple were murdered or died by suicide.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Thus far, Arsenal’s excellent form has relegated the injuries to a subplot.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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The carbon nanofiber provides mechanical stability, abundant pore channels, and excellent electrolyte wettability, while the cobalt sites catalyze the adsorption and conversion of polysulfides.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quintessential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quintessential. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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